GalleryNSW bushfires in pictures

A 'thank you' sign is seen in Springwood following the bushfires in the Blue Mountains.

AAP: Lukas Coch

A firefighter at work at Faulconbridge as bushfires threaten the Blue Mountains.

702 ABC Sydney: John Donegan

Fire tankers line a road in the Blue Mountains town of Faulconbridge, October 24, 3013.

702 ABC Sydney: John Donegan

Firefighters walk through thick smoke in Faulconbridge as bushfires threaten the Blue Mountains.

702 ABC Sydney: John Donegan

Firefighters are on hand to defend a property at Faulconbridge as bushfires threaten the Blue Mountains.

702 ABC Sydney: John Donegan

A NSW Rural Fire Service crew from the Devils Pinch brigade take some time to rest and clean their truck at a staging area at Penrith, west of Sydney, as the fire threat in the Blue Mountains eases, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013.

AAP: Dan Himbrechts

The ABC's John Donegan snapped the local wildlife getting close with Rural Fire Service teams near Windsor, New South Wales, on October 22 2013.

702 ABC Sydney: John Donegan

A man walks his dog past a sign thanking the Rural Fire Service tied to a fence in the Blue Mountains town of Faulconbridge.

702 ABC Sydney: John Donegan

A resident hoses down his house in the Blue Mountains town of Faulconbridge, October 24, 2013.

712 ABC Sydney: John Donegan

A female Rural Fire Service firefighter walks through a burnt area after trying to extinguish a small fire approaching homes near the Blue Mountains suburb of Blackheath.

Warrimoo firefighters relax by playing a game of cricket near Norman Lindsay House in Faulconbridge.

702 ABC Sydney: John Donegan

A firefighter looks on as air crane Elvis drops water at the Linksview Road fire near Faulconbridge, in the Blue Mountains.

AAP: Lukas Coch

Firefighters work on containing a spot fire near Faulconbridge, in the Blue Mountains.

AAP: Lukas Coch

Rural Fire Service firefighters try to extinguish a small fire approaching homes near the Blue Mountains suburb of Blackheath.

Reuters: David Gray

Smoke is piling from the Linksview Road fire near Faulconbridge, in the Blue Mountains. An emergency warning has been issued for the area and embers are being blown towards houses in the area.

AAP: Lukas Coch

Firefighters look on as a helicopter drops water to contain a spot fire near Faulconbridge, in the Blue Mountains.

AAP: Lukas Coch

Members of the Rural Fire Service set up defensive positions near Grose and Chapman roads in Faulconbridge.

ABC News: Greg Nelson

Fire fighting crews from South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales are seen waiting to be tasked for fires burning in the Blue Mountains, at a staging and accommodation area at Penrith, west of Sydney.

NSW Rural Fire Service firefighters back-burn around Faulconbridge in the Blue Mountains in the early evening of October 22, 2013.

702 ABC Sydney: John Donegan

A NSW Rural Fire Service firefighter watches back-burning around Faulconbridge in the Blue Mountains on the evening of October 22, 2013.

702 ABC Sydney: John Donegan

A firefighter engulfed in flames crawls out of the fire unscathed in Faulconbridge on October 22, 2013.

702 ABC Sydney: John Donegan

NSW Rural Fire Service and Victorian CFA firefighters strengthen containment lines on the Darling Causeway near the township of Bell in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, October 21, 2013.

AAP: Dan Himbrechts

A firefighter shoots a hose at flames while back-burning in Faulconbridge on October 22, 2013.

702 ABC Sydney: John Donegan

Firefighters take a moment to relax after back-burning at Faulconbridge in the Blue Mountains on October 22, 2013.

702 ABC Sydney: John Donegan

A sign in front of Faulconbridge Public School announces the closure of the school as bushfires ravage the Blue Mountains, October 22, 2013.

AAP: Lukas Coch

Paul Bousfield sits on the remains of his Suzuki VL 800 motorbike at his property in Winmalee in the Blue Mountains, October 22, 2013.

AAP: Lukas Coch

The sun sets behind trees blackened by bushfire in Winamalee on October 21, 2013.

Audience submitted: Chaiwat Leelakajonkij

Raindrops land on the windscreen of a car at Faulconbridge in the Blue Mountains on October 22, 2013.

702 ABC Sydney: John Donegan

Fire Rescue New South Wales members take a break at Faulconbridge in the Blue Mountains on October 22, 2013.

702 ABC Sydney: John Donegan

A NSW rural firefighter monitors back-burning near Mount Victoria in the Blue Mountains on October 21, 2013.

AFP: William West

An aerial view of the State Mine fire, taken on October 22, 2013.

Sarah Farnsworth

The burnt-out remains of a car and houses at Winmalee in the Blue Mountains on October 21, 2013, after they were destroyed by a bushfire.

Reuters: David Gray

A Victorian CFA firefighter helps NSW RFS firefighters put in containment lines on the Darling Causeway, near the township of Bell, in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, Monday, October 21, 2013.

AAP: Dan Himbrechts

NSW rural firefighters take a break after back-burning near Mount Victoria in the Blue Mountains on October 21, 2013.

AFP: William West

NSW Rural Fire Service firefighter Garry Reid from the Medlow Bath brigade puts in containment lines on the Darling Causeway near the township of Bell, in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney on Monday, October 21, 2013.

AAP: Dan Himbrechts

A NSW Rural Fire Service volunteer puts out a spot fire near the Monkey Creek Cafe in the town of Bell in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, on October 20, 2013.

AAP: Paul Miller

A NSW Rural Fire Service volunteer puts out a fire near the Monkey Creek Cafe in the town of Bell in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney on October 20, 2013.

AAP: Paul Miller

The burnt out remains of a car and house at Winmalee in the Blue Mountains, October 21, 2013, after a bushfire tore through the town.

ABC News: Alex McDonald

Alecia Newton and Mairead Sheehy busking on Springwood's shopping strip, Macquarie Street on October 20, 2013, to raise money for those who have lost homes in the fire.

ABC News: Pat McGrath

A bushfire roars towards a house at Winmalee in the Blue Mountains on October 17, 2013. Audience member, Tim Cooling, took this photo moments before the house, his mother's, was destroyed by the fire.

Audience submitted: Tim Cooling

This baby swamp wallaby was found alone in a burnt out area near Birdswood Avenue, Winmalee after the bushfires on October 19, 2013. The little guy was taken in by Shannon King, a volunteer with the Blue Mountains branch of Wildlife Information, Rescue & Education Service (WIRES). The organisation is currently seeking donations and supplies of pillow cases, towels and sheets via their website.

Supplied: Shannon King, WIRES

The historic Wallarah House burnt to the ground on the headland at Catherine Hill Bay near Wyong on October 18, 2013.

AAP: Dean Lewins

The burnt out remains of a car and house in Springwood, the Blue Mountains, on October 20, 2013, after a bushfire tore through the town.

AAP: Troy Kelly

Umbrellas sit at the entrance to a burnt out residence at Yellow Rock in the Blue Mountains on October 19, 2013, after a bushfire swept through the town.

Audience submitted: Matt Broad

NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell tweeted this photo of the fire line at Raymond Terrace in the Hunter, showing just how close the bushfire came to homes there.

The remains of a road sign that burnt in the intense heat of the bushfire in the Balmoral/Yanderra area, October 19, 2013.

Craig Brown

A water-bombing helicopter fills at the Sydney International Regatta Centre at Penrith in Sydney's west before setting off to tackle the Blue Mountains bushfires, October 19, 2013.

Audience submitted: Rosa Brown

Winmalee resident Carolyn Vickery takes her dog for a run through burned bushland before high temperatures and hot winds are tipped to arrive on Sunday, October 20, 2013. She says her family is prepared to leave the area if the fire burning nearby intensifies.

ABC: Pat McGrath

A bushfire burning on Stapylton Street in Springwood, on October 19, 2013.

AAP Image/NSW Rural Fire Service: Luke Murphy

One of the carriages damaged in bushfires affecting Zig Zag Railway at Lithgow, taken on October 19, 2013.

Supplied: Zig Zag Railway

The scorched sign at the entrance to Yanderra in the Southern Highlands, NSW, on October 20, 2013, after a bushfire tore through the town.

Audience submitted: Jonathan Croft

This house on Buena Vista Rd, Winmalee was destroyed by fires that tore through the area on Thursday, October 17, 2013.

ABC: Pat McGrath

A trampoline destroyed by fire in a backyard at a house on Buena Vista Rd, Winmalee. The fire that tore through the area on Thursday, October 17, 2013, destroyed more than a dozen homes on the street.

Mark Wilson throws water over his house in Faulconbridge in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney.

702 ABC Sydney: John Donegan

Rural Fire Service volunteers conducting back-burning in the Catherine Hill Bay area near Wyong on the Central Coast of New South Wales.

AAP: Dean Lewins

Fire crews prepare to work at Rita Avenue in Faulconbridge in the Blue Mountains.

702 ABC Sydney: John Donegan

Ron Fuller stands in the ruins of his home after a bushfire tore through Winmalee.

ABC News: Grant Wignall

Amy Hubbard (right) is comforted by her father Darren after returning to their home which was completely destroyed after a devastating bushfire passed through at Winmalee in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, Friday, Oct. 18, 2013.

AAP: Dan Himbrechts

A few charred paper among the rubble of a home destroyed by a bushfire at Winmalee.

ABC News: Mohamed Taha

A house has burned to the ground on the headland at Catherine Hill Bay near Wyong on the Central Coast of New South Wales.

AAP: Dean Lewins

A cat put her into a bucket of water when she returned home at Winmalee after disappearing during yesterday's fires.

AAP: Ian Gough

Catherine Hubbard comforts her daughter Amy as they return to their home after a devastating bushfire passed through at Winmalee in the Blue Mountains.

AAP: Dan Himbrechts

A home is seen completely destroyed after a devastating bushfire passed through at Winmalee in the Blue Mountains.

AAP: Dan Himbrechts

The Kozumplik family sift through the remains of their home on Emma Parade, Winmalee, after a bushfire swept through the Blue Mountains town, October 18, 2013.

ABC News: Alison Branley

Washing was spared, but a home was destroyed when fire swept through Emma Parade at Winmalee in New South Wales.

ABC News: Lucy Carter

The remains of Jenny And Roderick Cole's home in Winmalee the day after a bushfire swept through the area.

ABC News: Alison Branley

A melted wheelie bin lies on the ground outside a burnt out house after a bushfire tore through Winmalee in the Blue Mountains.

ABC News: Grant Wignall

Residents comfort each other after returning to their home that was destroyed by a bushfire that tore through Winmalee.

ABC News: Grant Wignall

A home and swimming pool have been destroyed by fire that swept through Emma Parade in Winmalee.

ABC News: Lucy Carter

A thermometer on the outside of a house has as a bushfire swept through the town on Winmalee.

ABC News: Mohamed Taha

Sue Templeman and Ron Fuller sift through the remains of their home that was destroyed by a bushfire that tore through Winmalee in the Blue Mountains.

ABC News: Grant Wignall

A NSW RFS firefighter assesses a bushfire burning close to homes on Patterson street at Springwood in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney, Thursday, October 17, 2013.

AAP: Dan Himbrechts

Residents were on high alert when the wind changed direction suddenly as the Lithgow fire headed towards Bilpin.

Michael Andrews

NSW RFS firefighters battle a bushfire burning close to homes on Patterson Street in Springwood in the Blue Mountains on Thursday October 17, 2013.

AAP: Dan Himbrechts

A bushfire burns at Yellow Rock Reserve at the base of the Blue Mountains west of Sydney, October 17, 2013.

Audience submitted: Ian Burrows

A firefighter battles a bushfire at Warrimoo in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney on October 17, 2013.

Instagram: bairdyj

A ute gutted by bushfire in the historic township of Newnes Junction, north of Lithgow, Thursday, October 17, 2013.

AAP: Dean Lewins

Resident Sean Butler stands in front of his 1958 bus after fighting a fire with five other residents at the historic township Newnes Junction north of Lithgow, October 17, 2013.

AAP: Dean Lewins

A bushfire jumps the Bells Line Road north of Lithgow, west of Sydney, on October 17, 2013.

AAP: Dean Lewins

Smoke from bushfires fill the sky over the city in Sydney, October 17, 2013.

AAP: James Morgan

Smoke from a bushfire blows over Newcastle Airport as bushfires raged across New South Wales on October 17, 2013.

Audience submitted

Vehicles sit at a standstill on the northbound lane of the Hume Highway approaching Sydney after a bushfire cut off the highway on October 17, 2013.

Audience submitted: Benjamin Sale

Matthew Bevan (ABC)

A house is engulfed in flames from bushfires in Yellow Rock, Blue Mountains, near Sydney, October 17, 2013.

AAP: Jason Webster

A man photographs a bushfire looking south from Strzelecki Lookout in Newcastle, New South Wales, on October 17, 2013.

Audience submitted: Jacob Davis

Fire rips through NSW houses

A burnt-out house stands in blackened bushland amid the NSW fires.

Fire fighters work to protect properties from a bushfire near Lithgow, NSW, on October 17, 2013.

AAP: Dean Lewins

Smoke rises from a bushfire near the airport in Newcastle in NSW, on October 17, 2013.

Supplied: Jason Lodge

Smoke rises from a bushfire near Lithgow, near the Blue Mountains in NSW, on October 17, 2013.

Supplied: NSW RFS

A fire-fighting helicopter flies over a bushfire near Lithgow, near the Blue Mountains in NSW, on October 17, 2013.

Prime News: Phoebe Moore

View photographs of the bushfires that have ravaged NSW and darkened the skies with smoke and ash.